Authorities ID men involved in fatal 'Vliet fight

WATERVLIET - Police have now identified the 51-year-old man who died from stab wounds Sunday afternoon as David Hochsprung, a resident of 1618 5th Ave. in Watervliet.

According to Watervliet Police Chief Ron Boisvert, there was an altercation between the primary resident, Hochsprung, and Brandon Burritt, a 30-year-old who recently moved into the 2nd floor apartment.

Burritt is now in critical condition at Albany Medical Center after sustaining injuries to his throat and stomach, according to Brandi Remillard, a friend of his who lived down the street. A police press release confirmed multiple stab/slash wounds to his torso and neck.

Remillard said that Burritt had been in a coma-like state at the hospital.

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"When I heard it was Brandon that was in the hospital, I couldn't believe it," she said.

Friends of Burritt's pointed out that he may have been drinking prior to the incident since he had just posted on Facebook that he planned to drink a bottle of vodka that afternoon.

It appears the two had a verbal disagreement over phone usage that escalated into violence, according to Boisvert.

When police arrived at the scene, there were signs of a struggle. Burritt, who called police, was found at the bottom of a staircase on a landing. He indicated to police there was another man upstairs.

Hochsprung was located upstairs on a couch dead of apparent stab/slash wounds.